Sugarfoot Posted September 1, 2017 Share Posted September 1, 2017 Took Sugarfoot in to get a new inspection and tags, everything was good except the brake lights were dead. Is there a fuze I'm missing? There is no fuse marked "BRAKE" on fuse box. Suggestions? Yes she does have a trailer hitch and a standard light connection. Last time I rented a trailer all lights worked and that was about 2 months ago. So I'm a bit in the dark. But I need to get her on the road. Headed to Houston then Baton Rouge for the NFIP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted September 1, 2017 Share Posted September 1, 2017 when that happened to me, it was corrosion in the harness connector behind the rear drivers side tire. :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fiatslug87 Posted September 1, 2017 Share Posted September 1, 2017 Could also be the brake light switch on the back of the brake pedal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiser54 Posted September 1, 2017 Share Posted September 1, 2017 See if you have power to one side of the brake light switch. It's never a bad idea to check the taillight ground. better yet, do this: http://cruiser54.com/?p=249 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green Mesa XJ Posted September 1, 2017 Share Posted September 1, 2017 I've had the brake light switch at the pedal melt the wires on the 85 XJ, then I had a windshield water leak that fubared the fuse box on top on the previous owner had a clutch master cylinder leak. There was a fuse that had bad connectivity that affected the brake lights. I want to say it was the hazard fuse. It may be marked hazard/brake, I can't remember for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sugarfoot Posted September 1, 2017 Author Share Posted September 1, 2017 The Hazard fuse was blown but upon replacement it was not the fix. Thanks Pete I remember I had that same problem years ago and i had forgotten it and i think you even told me the same thing then. OK so I'm getting old now. But mind you it was probably 2002-3. Hey I may be old but not as old as Don. Is all that chrome beginning to turn gray yet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted September 1, 2017 Share Posted September 1, 2017 mine went bad in '99 :D but I found out at work and apparently the experience of trying to bypass the connector in a blazing hot parking lot stayed with me all these years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sugarfoot Posted September 5, 2017 Author Share Posted September 5, 2017 On 8/31/2017 at 11:39 PM, Pete M said: when that happened to me, it was corrosion in the harness connector behind the rear drivers side tire. :( On 9/1/2017 at 3:43 PM, Sugarfoot said: The Hazard fuse was blown but upon replacement it was not the fix. Thanks Pete I remember I had that same problem years ago and i had forgotten it and i think you even told me the same thing then. OK so I'm getting old now. But mind you it was probably 2002-3. Hey I may be old but not as old as Don. Is all that chrome beginning to turn gray yet? On 9/1/2017 at 7:55 AM, Green Mesa XJ said: I've had the brake light switch at the pedal melt the wires on the 85 XJ, then I had a windshield water leak that fubared the fuse box on top on the previous owner had a clutch master cylinder leak. There was a fuse that had bad connectivity that affected the brake lights. I want to say it was the hazard fuse. It may be marked hazard/brake, I can't remember for sure. On 9/1/2017 at 6:13 PM, Pete M said: mine went bad in '99 :D but I found out at work and apparently the experience of trying to bypass the connector in a blazing hot parking lot stayed with me all these years. On 9/1/2017 at 6:13 PM, Pete M said: mine went bad in '99 :D but I found out at work and apparently the experience of trying to bypass the connector in a blazing hot parking lot stayed with me all these years. On 9/1/2017 at 6:13 PM, Pete M said: mine went bad in '99 :D but I found out at work and apparently the experience of trying to bypass the connector in a blazing hot parking lot stayed with me all these years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carnuck Posted September 5, 2017 Share Posted September 5, 2017 If the fuse for 4 way flashers was blown, do they work now that you replaced the bad fuse? The previous trailer you pulled may have had a short (or wired wrong if it had electric brakes) or yanked on the harness under the truck and caused an intermittent issue back there. Checking the plug on the pedal switch to see if it has power going in is good. The 4 way flasher switch on the column can be part way engaged and cause an issue with signals. As long as the lights in the back are working otherwise, then it's not the bulbs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sugarfoot Posted September 5, 2017 Author Share Posted September 5, 2017 The hazard flasher was broke off years ago and has never effected the brake lights. but one thing i noticed when I swapped out the bad fuse in it was that the next one blew too. So it appears there is a short somewhere but I also tried a 25 and it did not blow but also did not bring the lights back. Harness in the back is good, Pete, I cleaned it well. Also the bulbs are good and the grounds appear to be good.. I would have cleaned them while I was back there but they are held on with small Phillips heads and are very tight. No rust though and a ground on each one too. So no help so far. Any other SAWG's? I'm going to check voltage at switch today with a neighbors volt meter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kryptronic Posted September 5, 2017 Share Posted September 5, 2017 I had a similar issue recently and learned that the wiring up and through the steering column to the multiswitch is all involved with the brake lights. My issue ended up being a loose wire in the connector at the base of the steering column. Jiggle those wires when you run out of options. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sugarfoot Posted September 5, 2017 Author Share Posted September 5, 2017 Hey thanks I'll go check that out tonight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted September 6, 2017 Share Posted September 6, 2017 On 9/1/2017 at 3:43 PM, Sugarfoot said: The Hazard fuse was blown but upon replacement it was not the fix. Thanks Pete I remember I had that same problem years ago and i had forgotten it and i think you even told me the same thing then. OK so I'm getting old now. But mind you it was probably 2002-3. Hey I may be old but not as old as Don. Is all that chrome beginning to turn gray yet? Nope. The brightwork's still shiny and as new, just like my mind James. I don't usually have to ask how to fix things either, but when I do someone tells me how to fix it and it works, I never forget it. Unlike you James. :~) Good to hear from you brother! Where you been? Working in Guam? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sugarfoot Posted September 6, 2017 Author Share Posted September 6, 2017 Nope no Guam, ended up states side on that Navy contract. Well I can understand when you're retired and have all kinds of time on your hands to polish all of it. Jeez life is OK looking forward to retiring myself. 3 more years. Then I can go back to looking for that chrome rear bumper full time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minuit Posted September 7, 2017 Share Posted September 7, 2017 Just popping in to add that my brake lights also quit working because the plug for the turn signal switch came loose somehow. No other symptoms - must have been just one or two of the contacts. I felt really stupid after jumping the brake light switch to the body harness in the middle of the night so I could drive it, getting home, tracing the wiring diagram to the turn signal switch, and noticing half of the connector wasn't latched. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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